On October 21st and 22nd, Partners Aligned Toward Health (PATH) will celebrate Red Ribbon Week by bringing inspirational speaker, Blake Fly, to present at Mitchell and Yancey County middle and high schools. Each year, to celebrate Red Ribbon Week millions of people across the country wear red ribbons and take part in activities that promote healthy, substance-free living.
Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest substance use prevention campaign, started in 1985. The campaign was developed by a nonprofit called the National Family Partnership which was started by a group of parents concerned about youth substance use. Today, NFP is a national leader in substance use prevention, education, and advocacy to support families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, substance-free youth.
This year’s Red Ribbon Week speaker, Blake Fly, uses live music, storytelling, and humor to shed a bright light on the ups, downs, and opportunities in middle and high school life. He opens up about his struggles and strong points of school to inspire students to leave their school (and the people in it) better than how they found it. Students leave Blake’s programs with a heightened appreciation of their school, their peers, and themselves.
Blake helps students focus on what’s most important—friends, family, choices, and the legacy they’ll leave behind. Through real stories and practical tools, he shows teens how small acts of kindness and appreciation can change their school, their community, and their future.
Join PATH this Red Ribbon Week as we celebrate living substance-free and empower students to make positive choices with the energy and encouragement of Blake Fly. For more information about Red Ribbon Week or PATH’s work in substance use prevention, contact Partners Aligned Toward Health at info@pathwnc.org or visit pathwnc.org.
